False Expectations - Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Adelina's pov:
I was jolted awake by a loud banging on my door. Someone was calling my name urgently from the other side.
-"Hold on! Just a second!" I called out, trying to clear the sleep from my head. I quickly jumped out of bed, threw on some clothes, and opened the door. Standing in front of me was a tall, muscular warrior, his expression serious.
-"Beta Chris sent me. We need to go. Follow me," he ordered.
Without another word, I nodded, and he turned to lead me. Outside, a black SUV was waiting, and as soon as I got in, the car pulled away. The driver and the guard beside him didn't say a word, their silence unnerving me. I tried to start a conversation, hoping to find out why I was summoned, but neither man responded. The unease only deepened in my gut. Maybe something had happened to Maximus. I couldn't shake the thought.
Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at the hospital. The guard opened the door for me, and I followed him briskly into the building. My heart pounded in my chest as I climbed the stairs, my thoughts focused solely on Maximus. I reached his room and was about to knock when the door swung open. Chris stood there, motioning for me to come inside.
-"Has his condition worsened?" I asked quickly, my anxiety apparent in my voice.
But instead of an answer, I heard it—a faint whisper. Soft at first, then growing stronger.
-"Adelina... come... closer," a familiar voice beckoned. It was Maximus!
I froze, shocked. "When did he wake up?" I asked Chris, still stunned.
Chris didn't respond immediately, his face a mask of seriousness as he stepped aside to let me through.
-"Adelina..." Maximus repeated, his voice strained but clear.
I moved closer to the bed, unsure of how to approach him. Maximus' hand reached out weakly, and he motioned for me to sit beside him. Hesitantly, I complied, avoiding any direct eye contact. His grip, though faint, was warm. He then gently took my chin between his thumb and fingers, lifting my face to meet his gaze.
-"I want you to look at me," he said, his voice commanding despite the weakness in it. "The things we need to discuss are important, and I need your full attention."
I nodded, my heart racing in my chest. What was this about? He hadn't even mentioned the bond or anything from last night. My mind was racing with possibilities. But then, a part of me prepared for what I thought he might say—the thank you for sitting with him, followed by a dismissal. Perhaps he'd tell me never to bother him again. If that were the case, I'd take the chance to ask if I could return to my old pack. It might be my only shot at being free of this complicated, painful situation.
-"Adelina, it's hard for me to say this..." Maximus began, his hand running through his hair in frustration. He let out a deep sigh before continuing, his voice tinged with regret. "Recent events have made me realize how wrong and unfair I've been to you. Chris told me about the entire night you spent by my side. I know that your presence helped me recover, and I can't thank you enough for that. Despite the way I treated you, you stayed with me. So, after thinking long and hard, I've decided to give you a second chance."
-"A second chance?" I asked, my confusion obvious. "What are you talking about?"
Maximus took a deep breath, his eyes finally meeting mine with determination. "I've decided to accept you as my mate. Tomorrow, I'll announce it to the pack and introduce you as my future Luna. From now on, you will always be by my side, where you should've been from the start."
I was speechless for a moment, my mind reeling from the sudden shift in his tone. "Wait—what? This is your 'second chance'? What makes you think I'll just accept your decision?" I shot back, my voice rising in frustration. "You didn't even ask me! Who the hell do you think you are?"
Maximus' expression hardened as his frustration started to show. "I don't understand your anger. This is everything you've ever wanted! Instead of rejecting you, I'm accepting you—how is that not what you've been waiting for? What's your problem?"
-"Maybe because you never bothered to ask me first!" I snapped, feeling my blood boil. "You're not listening. You just assumed I'd be happy with your decision without even considering how I feel!"
-"I am the Alpha," he said, his tone now cold and final. "I don't need to ask anyone's permission for decisions regarding my life, especially when it concerns my pack. You are my mate. I'm doing exactly what every wolf does when they find their mate. It's what you've wanted from the beginning, so why are you making this a bigger deal than it is?"
-"Are you seriously this blind?" I asked, my voice shaking with anger. "You think just because you're the Alpha, you can make decisions for me without even consulting me? Do you not see how wrong that is?"
He stared at me, uncomprehending, as if my anger made no sense. "No, I don't understand why you're upset," he said, his voice cool and distant. "But it doesn't matter. I've made my decision, and it's final."
I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, frustration and disbelief swirling within me. But there was nothing I could do. His mind was already made up.
Maximus took another deep breath before continuing. "Tomorrow, I'll gather the pack and announce that I've found my mate. I'll introduce you as my Luna. Omegas will assist you with the preparations for the ceremony. And you will change room. From now on you're staying at my house. Your bedroom will be ready as soon as you arrive at the pack house."
I didn't know how to respond. It was like everything I'd hoped for had been thrown at me in the most cold, detached way possible. The moment I thought I could finally have a chance at what I wanted, it had been tainted.
I turned away from him, unable to look at him any longer, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and hurt.
-"What the hell are you saying?" I shot back, my voice trembling with anger. "I'm not going to be your Luna just because you decided so! I don't care if you changed your mind or if it fits your convenience now. I refuse to participate in this travesty."
His gaze never wavered as he crossed his arms, as though my words were just noise to him. "You had the chance to be my mate and you missed it, Maximus!" I continued, my chest tight with frustration. "For so long, you didn't want me. I still remember your words—how you told me I wasn't fit to be your Luna. And now, just because you think the bond helped you recover from your coma, you decide to give us a second chance?"
I clenched my fists, fury burning through me. "And you have the audacity to tell me this in such a cold, detached way, without even asking me first? No, I refuse. I refuse to be your Luna. You hear me? I DENY IT!"
Maximus' face hardened. "I'm not asking for your permission, Adelina," he said coldly. "I'm just informing you. But I don't need to ask you anything. Remember, I'm your Alpha."
He turned toward Chris. "Take her back to the pack house. Then come back here. And make sure two warriors guard her in case she does anything stupid."
The disdain in his eyes was unmistakable. He fixed me with a final, almost condescending gaze. "I'll see you later, love."
-"Go to hell," I spat, my heart pounding.
He smirked, unphased by my outburst. "You know, women who swear? Not my thing. You'll learn my tastes eventually." Then, with an air of satisfaction, he turned to Chris. "Take her. I want her to be... relaxed for our night together."
My blood boiled. The moment his smug words left his mouth, I could feel my instincts flare. I was about to charge at him—claws out, fury in my veins—but before I could move, Chris was behind me, grabbing me with force. His hold was strong, preventing me from breaking free as I kicked and fought in his grip.
-"Let go of me!" I screamed, but my words were drowned out by the frustration building in my chest. We were moving too quickly, and I was helpless against Chris' iron-clad grip.
Minutes passed in a haze of anger and confusion, my mind racing to understand what had just happened. I didn't expect this. I thought Maximus had learned something, that maybe this was a chance for us. But now it felt like a punishment, and he didn't even care about what I wanted.
"What am I supposed to do now?" I muttered under my breath as we reached the exit. "Instead of returning to my old pack, I'm stuck being the Luna of this self-centered Alpha."
My wolf's voice was a whisper in the back of my mind, filled with reluctant acceptance. "Unfortunately, right now we have no other choice. We have to follow his plan, at least for now, until we find a better opportunity to escape."
I sighed heavily, feeling trapped. My thoughts swirled, but there was nothing I could do about it now. Not yet. But I'd figure out a way. I had to.
Chris' pov:
I left Adelina at Maximus' house, arranging for two omegas to assist her with anything she needed. Despite my efforts to calm her down, it was clear that her trust in me had eroded. She probably believed I had some involvement in Maximus' decision, and honestly, I couldn't blame her. But the truth was, I had no part in it. I wanted her to be our Luna—no, I preferred her to be our Luna. She was strong, kind, and deserved it far more than that opportunist, Jina.
I promised myself I would do everything in my power to help her from now on. This time, I wouldn't sit idly by while she suffered.
With that determination in mind, I made my way back to Maximus. As I entered his room, I found him already dressed and freshly shaved, sitting with a look of impatience on his face.
-"You're finally back. What took you so long?" he asked, his tone sharp and irritated.
I held my ground, my own frustration simmering just beneath the surface. "I tried to calm Adelina down before I left. What you did today—wasn't right. You shouldn't speak to her like that. She deserves more respect than you're giving her."
Maximus waved off my concern, his expression hardening. "Relax. Everything is under control. Don't worry about it too much. It's all going according to plan."
I didn't buy it. His words didn't reassure me; they only made me doubt even more. I was beginning to feel like there was something he wasn't telling me, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to find out. But one thing was clear: whatever happened next, I couldn't stand idly by. Not anymore.